Mossberg 472 / westernfield m72c disassembly

First off, I know my way forwards and back around a marlin 336 and 1894. This is not a copy of one. It's a mossberg 472 rebadged as a westernfield m72c.

I'm trying to figure out how to take the blasted thing apart. I can get the stock off, pull the lever and bolt, and I can pull the bottom screws off the gun, but something is still holing the bottom plate on. Anybody have one and can tell me how to do it? all I can find online are references to books I can buy or download, and that parts are available at havlin sales.

You are correct on the differences but IIRC, once the screws have been removed, the hammer housing just comes out. Unlike the Marlin, the parts are hung off the hammer housing rather than off the receiver, but the idea is really the same. I don't think the safety interferes with anything, but it has been a while and I may be wrong.

Jim

greyling22

November 19, 2012, 10:07 PM

ok, not trying to be obtuse, but what part is the hammer housing? I took the gun as far apart as I can make it go, and it looks like there is a bottom plate that needs to pull off, like on a marlin, but it acts like it is hung up on the front some where. Where do I go from here?

N.Schafer

November 19, 2012, 11:57 PM

Is the bottom plate loose enough to pull down some? Feels like it's catching on something? Push the loading gate inward and remove downward. I don't remember if the hammer needs to be down or cocked.

greyling22

November 20, 2012, 12:30 AM

I can't get the bottom plate to move at all now. (I reassembled to move it, but earlier I could get the tang end to pry up just a touch, but it was catching firmly at the front. Is it possible that the bottom plate needs to be tapped out forward or backward?

N.Schafer

November 20, 2012, 10:40 AM

I think you need to take off the hammer spring housing too. It should have flats on it to turn with a wrench.

greyling22

November 20, 2012, 11:57 AM

that's it! pull the silver bar that turns out to have the hammer spring in it, wiggle and jiggle and it eventually all comes out. Then you fight with it for an hour to get it all back together. what a nightmare. blegh. (it's much easier if when you discover the locking bolt must be slid in at the same time as the bottom plate, nestled in around the carrier and not before)

The gun feels like it is massively over-sprung, but my uncle says it gets FTF periodically that require a 2nd strike. MY recommendations now is to sell it and go find a real marlin. Thank you guys for all your help.